Columbus State reaps $232,000 by limiting holiday services

Columbus State Community College saved a total
$232,000 by encouraging employees to take Dec. 21-31 off this past year -- more than enough to want
to do it again.

College administrators will ask trustees tonight to continue the holiday week savings program
this year since business tends to slow down at the college at the end of the year.

Between 20 percent and 60 percent of the school's 700 full-time non-faculty workers took off on
any given day during the pilot program last December, officials say in a proposal that will go to
the board tonight. That helped Columbus State save $160,000 in payroll costs and another $72,000 in
custodial services, utility savings and payout from unused personal time.

As part of the program, the school cancelled in-person student services during the holiday
period, making it possible for employees to take the time off. Not everyone, however, was happy
with the move, including some part-time employees who complained that it was like a "forced leave"
that they could ill-afford to take because of the extra expenses associated with the holidays.

If approved, full-time staff and administrators will be encouraged to take off any or all of
Dec. 26-31 this year and part-time employees will not be scheduled to work those days.

The board will also vote to give employees four paid holiday leave days starting in Jan. 1, 2014
in place of the four personal business leave days they now receive. "This would enable the college
to close and reap the full utility, custodial and other savings of doing so," says a proposal that
will go before the board.